Patrice Talon, the president of Benin, voiced worries about the country’s continued tense relations with Niger, pointing up problems with the shipment of crude oil exports via Benin’s port terminal in particular. President Talon detailed Niger’s lack of cooperation in a televised speech, despite efforts to mend commercial relations after a disruptive coup in Niger in July 2023.
Following the coup, hostilities between the two countries in West Africa grew more intense, which prompted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to impose sanctions on Niger that persisted for more than six months. Even when these sanctions were eventually removed in an effort to restore regional trade, Niger has continued to keep its borders closed to products originating from Benin. This restriction is still having a detrimental effect on economic activity, especially on the export of oil, a vital sector for both nations.
President Talon reaffirmed Benin’s willingness to support regular exports of Nigerien oil through its port facilities at recent meetings in Niamey, the capital of Niger. He said the Benin customs office was ready to work with its Nigerien counterpart to make sure everything went well at the border, especially when it came to oil exports. Talon emphasized that such cooperation was hinged on Niger formally reopening its borders, at least for oil transports.
The discussions, however, did not yield the desired response from the Nigerien side. According to Talon, the Nigerien delegation offered no response to the issues raised by Benin’s Minister of Mines, Samou Seidou Adambi, during their engagement in Niamey. “As I speak, I have not received any clarification or information from our Nigerien brothers along the lines expected by everyone,” Talon disclosed in his address.
In an attempt to mend relations and facilitate dialogue, President Talon sent a “letter of appeasement” to Niger’s junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, entrusting its delivery to Minister Adambi. However, this effort was met with a setback as Tchiani did not receive the minister during his visit. This non-meeting underscored the ongoing diplomatic challenges between the two countries.
Addressing the broader implications of such disputes, President Talon expressed his concerns about the negative impact on foreign investment in Africa. “I go around the world asking people to come and invest in Africa … and here I am, witnessing what makes investors reluctant,” he stated, emphasizing the need for stability and cooperation to attract and retain international investors.
President Talon maintained hope for the future of Niger-Benin relations in spite of these obstacles. He demanded that the miscommunications be cleared up as soon as possible and said that Niger’s persistent mistrust and negative attitudes could not be justified in any meaningful way. With the hope that ties would quickly return to normal, he said, “The period of protest and sanctions due to the coup that took place in Niger has gone.”
This dispute exists despite the conditions of the recent opening of a major infrastructure project, a roughly 2,000 km pipeline supported by PetroChina that links the port of Cotonou in Benin with the Agadem oilfield in Niger. This pipeline is anticipated to be vital to the area’s economic growth, highlighting the significance of settling the continuing tensions for the benefit of both nations and the broader region.
